Jalisco Pottery Kneeling Female Figure Holding Jar
Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A marvelous hand-built pottery statue of a woman sitting with both legs folded beneath her thighs. The red-slipped figure wears a simple skirt around her waist while holding a jug behind her left shoulder, and her nude torso displays large breasts and broad shoulders. Her left arm holds the jug, while the right arm bends at the elbow to place her hand on her flat stomach. Her expressive countenance features cupped ears, a dramatically pointed nose, generously lidded eyes with openwork pupils, pursed lips, and a pinched jawline, all beneath a centrally parted coiffure. Black painted spirals adorn her breasts, representing tattoos. Size: 8.8" W x 12.3" H (22.4 cm x 31.2 cm)
West Mexican shaft tomb figures like this example derive their names from the central architectural feature that we know of from this culture. Jalisco, located on Mexico's southwestern coast, was part of the shaft tomb culture during this time, along with neighbors in nearby Colima and Nayarit. These people would build generally rectangular vertical or near-vertical shafts down from the ground level - usually about 3 to 20 meters deep - through tepetate, the volcanic tuff that makes up the geology of the region, to narrow horizontal tunnels that led to one or more vaulted or rounded burial chambers.
These shafts were almost always dug beneath a dwelling, probably a family home, and seem to have been used as family mausoleums, housing the remains of many related individuals. Figures like this one were placed into the tombs; researchers believe that they were placed around the edges facing inward, as if in conversation with the dead. Grouped with other figures, and alongside clay bowls, and boxes, figures like this one were positioned around the body (or bodies), near the skull.
Unfortunately, we lack the necessary information to fully understand what these figures were made for - Did they represent everyday people, even individuals? Were they religious? Were they created to mediate between the living and the dead? Whatever their purpose, today they are beautiful artwork and reminders of the mysterious past.
Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired 1995 to 2015
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#166564
Condition Report: Repaired from several pieces with restoration. Chipping to upper lip. Otherwise, excellent with nice manganese deposits throughout.
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Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Jalisco, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A marvelous hand-built pottery statue of a woman sitting with both legs folded beneath her thighs. The red-slipped figure wears a simple skirt around her waist while holding a jug behind her left shoulder, and her nude torso displays large breasts and broad shoulders. Her left arm holds the jug, while the right arm bends at the elbow to place her hand on her flat stomach. Her expressive countenance features cupped ears, a dramatically pointed nose, generously lidded eyes with openwork pupils, pursed lips, and a pinched jawline, all beneath a centrally parted coiffure. Black painted spirals adorn her breasts, representing tattoos. Size: 8.8" W x 12.3" H (22.4 cm x 31.2 cm)
West Mexican shaft tomb figures like this example derive their names from the central architectural feature that we know of from this culture. Jalisco, located on Mexico's southwestern coast, was part of the shaft tomb culture during this time, along with neighbors in nearby Colima and Nayarit. These people would build generally rectangular vertical or near-vertical shafts down from the ground level - usually about 3 to 20 meters deep - through tepetate, the volcanic tuff that makes up the geology of the region, to narrow horizontal tunnels that led to one or more vaulted or rounded burial chambers.
These shafts were almost always dug beneath a dwelling, probably a family home, and seem to have been used as family mausoleums, housing the remains of many related individuals. Figures like this one were placed into the tombs; researchers believe that they were placed around the edges facing inward, as if in conversation with the dead. Grouped with other figures, and alongside clay bowls, and boxes, figures like this one were positioned around the body (or bodies), near the skull.
Unfortunately, we lack the necessary information to fully understand what these figures were made for - Did they represent everyday people, even individuals? Were they religious? Were they created to mediate between the living and the dead? Whatever their purpose, today they are beautiful artwork and reminders of the mysterious past.
Provenance: private Healy collection, Studio City, California, USA, acquired 1995 to 2015
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#166564
Condition Report: Repaired from several pieces with restoration. Chipping to upper lip. Otherwise, excellent with nice manganese deposits throughout.
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Time, Location
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